Senior figure for abuse probe: PM

David Cameron has ordered an investigation into whether an official inquiry into child abuse in North Wales did its job properly following allegations a senior Tory was involved in the scandal.

PUBLISHED: 13:42, Mon, Nov 5, 2012

Steve Messham claimed he was abused while staying at Bryn Estyn children's home in North Wales [PA]

The Prime Minister said he would appoint a senior independent figure to lead the investigation to ensure that "truly dreadful allegations" were not left "hanging in the air". Downing Street said that a separate process would be established to look at the way police at the time dealt with the claims of abuse which date back to the 1970s and 1980s.

The moves come after one of the victims came forward to say the Waterhouse Inquiry into abuse at the Bryn Estyn children's home, which reported in 2000, looked at only a fraction of the allegations.

In an interview with BBC2's Newsnight on Friday, Steve Messham criticised the way Sir Ronald Waterhouse conducted his inquiry, arguing the terms of reference meant he was not able to raise the issue of abuse outside the care system.

He said he was taken out of Bryn Estyn and "sold" to men for sexual abuse at a nearby hotel and that a senior Tory from the time, who was not named by the programme, was among the perpetrators.

Speaking during a visit to Abu Dhabi, Mr Cameron said: "These allegations are truly dreadful and they mustn't be left hanging in the air. I am going to be asking a senior independent figure to lead an urgent investigation into whether the original inquiry was properly constituted and properly did its job and to report urgently to the Government. I would also urge anyone who knows anything about these matters to go to the police. That is where evidence should be taken so that action can be taken and we can deal with this dreadful, dreadful issue."

The Prime Minister added that he was arranging for Mr Messham to meet Welsh Secretary David Jones so he could put his concerns to him directly.

Mr Messham said it was "very important" that there was an investigation into how the police handled the original allegations of abuse.

"I think we need that done by an outside police force, maybe the Met could come in and look at that," he told Newsnight.

He also said that he believed the investigation into the way the Waterhouse inquiry was conducted should be headed by an expert - unlike the original inquiry. "I just hope that he does not appoint a judge," he said.